Police walk close to the home of Saad al-Hilli in Claygate, Surrey, Credit: PA

Police investigating the French Alps shooting spree today evacuated an area around the victims' home in Surrey due to "concerns" about items found at the address.

Neighbours living close to the property in the affluent village of Claygate were prevented from returning to their houses as detectives examined the mock-Tudor house for clues.

Police said in a statement: "Surrey Police can confirm that due to concerns around items found at the address ... officers have extended the cordon surrounding the property."Neighbours in the immediate area are being temporarily evacuated."

On behalf of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, Dr Matt Perkins, CEO has issued the following statement.

I am deeply shocked and saddened to confirm that one of SSTL’s long-term contractors, Saad Al-Hilli, has been formally identified as one of the victims of the shootings which occurred in the French Alps.

Saad worked at SSTL as a Mechanical Design Engineer from November 2010. Saad’s colleagues will remember him as an experienced and committed engineer who worked as part of a tightly knit team.

He was a personal friend to many of our staff here.

Saad will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this very difficult and traumatic time.

We are a close family at SSTL and our staff are understandably very upset by this event. I ask the media to respect their privacy as they come to terms with this terrible news.